How to Sign Up

When Can I Sign Up?

ANYTIME. The law extending Medi-Cal coverage for former foster youth up to age 26 took effect on January 1, 2014. There is no open enrollment period for Medi-Cal and you can apply anytime of the year.

How Do I Sign Up?

BEST WAY TO SIGN UP: Through the County

Most counties have a specific office, phone number, or staff to help you enroll in the Medi-Cal program for former foster youth. Read our enrollment tips below and be sure to check out our information on the best way to apply for Medi-Cal coverage in YOUR COUNTY.

NOTE: If you leave foster care at age 18 or older after January 1, 2014, you do not need to reapply for Medi-Cal coverage. You will be automatically moved into the Medi-Cal program for former foster youth when you leave care. You can contact your Medi-Cal worker or county social service office to make sure you are in the Medi-Cal program for former foster youth.

Enrollment Tips:

Be sure to say you are a former foster youth when you go to sign up.

Be sure to say if you were in foster care in another state so that the county will know which state to contact to verify that you were in foster care at 18 or older.

You can use a simple, one-page form (called the MC 250A)to sign up. Bring this form with you when you go to sign up or ask for it when you go to your Medi-Cal office. Remember, you can only use this form if you apply through the county directly.

Tips on what to say or do

Here are some tips on what to say or do if a county worker doesn’t know about this Medi-Cal program or if you think the worker is giving you wrong information:

Former foster youth should be enrolled in the Former Foster Care Child (FFCC) coverage group.

Former foster youth should be assigned the “4M” aid code.

Former foster youth do NOT have to provide income information. This is because former foster youth get Medi-Cal no matter how much money they make.

Former foster youth do NOT have to fill out the full Medi-Cal application. Former foster youth can apply using the one-page MC 250A form.

The State recently sent a letter telling county workers about the extended Medi-Cal program for former foster youth. It might help to bring this letter with you when you go to sign up. Give it to the person helping you if he or she doesn’t know about the program for former foster youth. You can download the letter here.

The County Welfare Directors Association also sent a letter telling county workers about this program. It might also help to bring this letter with you when you go to sign up. You can download the letter here.

You DO NOT have to provide proof that you were in foster care at age 18 or older. The county will verify that you were in foster care at age 18 or older.

What’s the best way to sign up in MY COUNTY?

We have gathered information on the best and easiest ways for you to sign up in your county and will keep updating this information as we learn more. Look below for information on the best way to apply in your county.

Don’t see your county listed below? Don’t worry we are working to add information on more counties. In the meantime, you can download our county contact list. If we do not yet have a specific contact in your county, we have listed the main county office where you can go to apply.

Alameda County

Call the Foster Care Eligibility Hotline at (510) 268-2500 to enroll. Marilyn Balderas and Selia Johnson are the Foster Care Program Specialists.

Tulare County

Ventura County

Yolo County

Call Katya Lopez-Arreola at (530) 661-2787 OR email her at katya.lopezarreola@yolocounty.org
Department of Employment and Social Services
25 North Cottonwood St
Woodland, CA 95695

Other ways to sign up: Online or through Covered California

The easiest way for you to apply is through your county social service office. You can also sign up online through Covered California, but you will be asked questions about your income and taxes. You do not need to give income or tax information if you sign up through your county social services office. You can apply through the county using a simple one-page form for former foster youth, called the MC 250A, or by giving your information over the phone. The former foster youth contacts are listed above.

Need more help?

Having trouble getting Medi-Cal or other health care services? Click here for a list of legal service providers who might be able to help you.